KANSAS CITY, Mo. The iconic Ball Mason jar may be turning 125 this year, but its versatility makes it fresher than ever.

The rounded-shoulder jars originally were produced for canning peaches and pickles. Now the glass mainstays found in most grocery stores are increasingly being used for homemade gifts during this economic recession. The jars, sold by the dozen for quart-size, cost less than $1 apiece.

Layered mixes in jars were popular this past holiday season, said Lauren Devine, fresh preserving community manager for Jarden, producer of Ball Mason jars in Muncie, Ind. Many more of those types of gifts will be given this year.

Heres a fun fact: Blenders were designed to fit Mason jars, says Devine, who edited the new Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. That means you can blend spices, chop nuts and whip cream and just store the filled jars in the pantry or fridge without the usual mess. Or you can even drink frozen fruity concoctions straight from the blender because Mason jars with handles are available at stores and Web sites such as Amazon.com.

Mason jars for every room of the house

There are myriad uses for Mason jars in all parts of the home:

The kitchen. The jars can substitute for measuring cups because amounts in ounces and cups are listed on the side. Theyre perfect for mixing salad dressings as well as storing soups and sauces in the refrigerator. And theyre practical for bulk pantry items such as beans, rice, pasta and cereal, acting as canisters that keep them safe from household pests.

The bathroom. Theyre a convenient container for cotton balls and bath salts.

The kids bedroom. Jars are more useful and decorative than deep bins or toy chests: You can actually see the Legos, Barbie shoes, action figures, rubber balls and marbles at a glance. Of course, an adult should be around to handle the jars because theyre made of glass.

The office. They hold pens, pencils, rubber bands and paper clips.

The garage. Jars suitably store screws, nails and paintbrushes. Perhaps youve seen the old-fashioned method of bolting jar lids to the underside of a workbench to secure the jars of hardware. That can be practical if you dont have butterfingers.

And more. Mason jars also are convenient for caging ball-shaped items.

Its a way for knitters to contain yarn so it doesnt roll around and become tangled, said Carol Eddington, head designer of Yarn Shop and More in Overland Park, Kan. Yarn can be kept straight if a strand is threaded through a hole in the lid. Ive heard of the same method for household balls of twine.

Once upon a time, Mason jars were used as homespun mouse traps, says Devine, who discovered an old book that demonstrated dozens of uses for the jars. Such a contraption is on display in the exhibit Can It! 125 Years of the Ball Jar through Aug. 23 at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie.

John Mason invented and patented the Mason jar in 1858. Brothers Edmund, Frank, George, William and Lucius Ball started making fruit jars in 1884 in Buffalo, N.Y., moving operations in 1887 to Muncie. The brothers gave a small college in Muncie to the state of Indiana, later renamed Ball State University.

The Ball Mason jars originally were produced in aqua or amber-colored glass. In later years, clear jars contained zinc lids and eventually gold-colored vacuum-sealing systems. Another fun fact: 585,000 jars and 3 million lids are produced each day at the Ball plant in Muncie.

This year, the Ball Mason jar is getting a makeover, not only to celebrate the 125th anniversary but to be more in step with the modern household. Jar lids will be silver to coordinate with sleek stainless steel and brushed nickel finishes found throughout the home.